keys to the vascular plants of east texas - Botanical Research ...

734 LILIACEAE/LILIUM
Likewise, K. Robertson (pers. comm.) notes that the two are distinct species over a wide geographic
area. We are thus tentatively following McClain et al. (1999 [2000]) and Allen and Robertson
(2002) in recognizing both species. Erythronium mesochoreum is apparently less common in
East TX than E. albidum. The plants carry out their life cycle and disappear 6–8 weeks following
emergence (McClain et al. 1999 [2000]). Churchill and Bloom in Churchill (1986b) indicated
that ants eat the white oil body attached to the seeds and apparently act as dispersal agents.
The species is reported to be well-adapted to prairie fires (Allen & Robertson 2002).
Erythronium rostratum W. Wolf, (beaked), YELLOW TROUT-LILY, BEAKED TROUT-LILY. Leaves irregularly
mottled; non-flowering plants with runners; flowers yellow (can be tinged with
shades of red to purple to orange on the outside), held erect (all other species of Erythronium
have nodding flowers); tepals mostly spreading in full bloom, 20–34 mm long; inner 3 tepals
with well-developed triangular auricles at base; anthers yellow; fruit usually erect at maturity,
with a well-developed beak at apex; 2n = 24, 36 (diploid or triploid) (Carr 1986). Beech-hardwood
ravines; San Augustine (Kral 1966c), Sabine (MacRoberts & MacRoberts 1998a), and Polk
(Turner et al. 2003) cos. in the Pineywoods; c U.S. from OH s to AL w to KS, OK, and TX. Spring.
Colonies of this species often have many more non-flowering, 1-leaved plants than flowering
ones (Allen & Robertson 2002). Some plants from the Ozarks are known to be triploid, an unusual
condition in this typically diploid species (Carr 1986). While not officially designated as
such (e.g., TOES 1993; Carr 2002d; Poole et al. 2002), given its limited distribution in the state,
we consider this species to be of conservation concern in TX. � m/286
A second yellow-flowered species, E. umbilicatum C.R. Parks & Hardin (DIMPLED TROUT-LILY),
has been apparently erroneously reported for the Pineywoods of TX (Hatch et al. 1990), but
does not reach TX or immediately adjacent states (Allen & Robertson 2002). It can be distinguished
using the following characters: inner tepals without auricles at base; anthers brown,
purple, or infrequently yellow; fruits apically indented, with a depression, or rarely rounded.
LILIUM L. LILY
Bulbose perennial herbs; stems erect, unbranched, leafy; leaves alternate or whorled, entire, numerous;
flowers terminal, 1–few in an umbel-like cluster, perfect, large and showy; perianth segments
6, free; stamens 6; pistil 3-carpellate; ovary superior; fruits capsules; seeds numerous, flat.
AA genus of ca. 100 species (Skinner 2002) of bulbiferous herbs occurring mainly in temperate
regions of the n hemisphere (ranging s in tropical mountains to India and the Philippines),
and particularly abundant in e Asia (ca. 60 species) and North America (21 species) (Tamura
1998d; Skinner 2002). Many are cultivated and lilies are “of great commercial significance” and
“are one of the mainstays of the worldwide horticultural bulb trade” (Skinner 2002). There are
thousands of hybrids with ca. 6,000 registered (Skinner 2002). Lilium candidum L., MADONNA
LILY, BOURBON LILY, has long been cultivated (since at least 1,500 B.C.) for its white flowers used
in scent-making; it is figured in Cretan frescos 5,000 years old and is possibly the Rose of
Sharon of the Bible. The bulbs of some species are eaten; Native Americans used them both as
food and medicinally (Moerman 1998). Hemerocallis species, DAY-LILIES, in the Hemerocallidaceae,
superficially resemble Lilium (true LILIES) “in habit and flower shape but are easily distinguished
by rhizomes, septal nectaries, and the black, prismatic to rounded seeds (vs. the
bulb, perigonal nectaries, and pale brown, flat seeds of Lilium)” (Zomlefer 1998). Most members
of the genus are largely self-incompatible, and cross-pollination is necessary for seed production
(Newell 1980; Skinner 2002). � Some LILY species are known to be toxic to cats, causing
renal failure and even death; ingestion of even a single flower can cause toxicity (Burrows &
Tyrl 2001). (Latin form of Greek: leirion, name for the white Madonna lily—Lilium candidum)
REFERENCES: Woodcock & Stearn 1950; Ohwi 1965; Synge 1980; Adams & Dress 1982; Andersen
1986; Hayashi & Kawano 2000; Skinner 2002.